BECISION-TO ELIMINATE THE CENTRE
‘JUMP I€ RESULT OF TWO-YEAR SURVEY

by George ‘Daley’

*
.

Sentiment among® Eastern coaches ind’ officials on the
action of the National Basketball Committee in eliminating
the centre jump except on the opening of the game and the “C"
opening of the second half seems to be dividedy Still, no
Criticism can be leveled .at the rule-makers for eae ey or

ill-advised action.

The decision to dich this major change in ‘bee game was
based on a survey. lasting two years. ‘It was backed by two-
thirds of the,1,700 replies by the committee to its yearly
ruigs questionaire. e oh ck ee
> 2% SU oe -

a The elimination of the centre jump is like ly. to make _.
the game faster and=snelis the doom of those. physical freakeuee

used by: some coaches merely. because of their towering heights”
Tall boys will still have an advantage in jumping for ré-

pounds..under the basket, but emphasis. will no longer be

placed on the bean poles’ unless. they fit into the general —
scheme. of the offense.

To me the most important nhs Ae of the meetings in
Chicago was. the burying of district prejudices and the open-
minded co- operation of the’ coaches from different sections

ecb fein country. Heretofore there has been, too much, selfish-

ness in upholding one system or another, and as. a result the
game suffered from.varying internretation, wh ich’ caused much
aT RGAE Ob when intersectional games were played. .

.

Brbrett. Morris p of the Herald Tribune» sports stare,
tells me thet there was a refreshing air of candor about. the
dcliberations and all seemed to be working for the best —
interests of the sport and general standardization. This
resulted in a. clarification of the ‘controversial’ blocking _

"os pules and paved, the ay for a uniform interpretation of its

- provi sions.

The University of Maine last season resumed its basket-
ball relations after a lavse of several ‘years. The P.ine.
‘Tree Staters have. a‘new athletic plant. in which _they began
_ the court game once “for 6%" The. new feymnasium - is “one (ot the

best and most spacious in New Englarfd.

alg 48

e -——o ow

_ Bates College, another Maine institution, is also re-
suming a court schedule this season after having abandoned
the sport several years ago. Leslie Spinks, a former Ala-
bama athlete, is coach of the quintet.